Monroe, La. (AP) — A man was sentenced to more than four years in prison for bilking friends and family out of more than $800,000 by convincing them that his wife was a government agent who could arrange to have their medical problems diagnosed by satellite imaging…

U.S. Attorney Donald W. Washington said in a news release following Monday’s sentencing of Brent Finley that the couple convinced numerous people that Stacey Finley was a CIA agent and with her contacts she could schedule a medical scan of the victims’ bodies by satellite imaging that would detect any hidden medical problems.

The Finley’s convinced their victims that, if any medical problems were found, secret agents would administer medicine to them as they slept in exchange for payment, according to a bill of information filed when the Finleys were charged in May…

Editors’ Note: Speaking of miracle cures — In 1981, Joey Skaggs perpetrated his Metamorphosis Hoax. Under the name Josef Gregor, he claimed to be an entomologist who had extracted a hormone from his proprietary strain of super-roaches which were immune to toxins and radiation. To date his medical breakthrough had cured all of the common ailments known to man, including colds, acne, anemia, and menstrual cramps. Skaggs claimed that his cockroach miracle cure would even make people immune to nuclear radiation. Widely covered by the national media as if true, Metamorphosis aptly satirized the public’s gullibility when it comes to medical miracle cures.

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Welcome to the Art of the Prank, produced and edited by Joey Skaggs. Here you will find insights, information, news and discussions about art, pranks, hoaxes, culture jamming & reality hacking around the world - past, present and future - mainstream and counter culture. You are invited to contribute to its development. May your journey be filled with more than your expectations.